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Videovision to distribute Roodt's Meisie globally
Anant Singh, chief executive of Videovision Entertainment, announced last week the acquisition of the worldwide distribution rights to Darrell James Roodt's latest film, Meisie. The film had its world premiere at the Durban International Film Festival, which previously hosted the world premieres of Roodt's Oscar-nominated Yesterday and Faith's Corner, which were produced by Singh and Videovision Entertainment.
Singh commented, “We are delighted to have acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Meisie. The film is an authentic, indigenous film to emerge out of South Africa. We are also pleased to be continuing our collaboration with Darrell, after Yesterday and Faith's Corner, both of which opened the Durban Film Festival in past years. We are committed to supporting the amazing talents of South Africa and to creating a global profile for the South African film industry.”
Darrell James Roodt said, “I am thrilled that Anant and Videovision Entertainment will be selling Meisie internationally. I have worked with them for many years and I truly believe that they are best suited to distribute Meisie abroad.”
Roodt made Meisie almost entirely on his own on a very modest budget with producer Diony Kempen. Meisie is also a unique film for Roodt as it is the first film that he shot without a screenplay and which was improvised with local people, except for the lead actress, who is a professional.
Long association
Roodt has a long association with Videovision Entertainment spanning more than 25 years and has made 10 films with the company, including the first-ever anti-apartheid film made in South Africa, A Place Of Weeping; the multi-award winning, anti-war film, The Stick; the vibrant musical Sarafina! which was inspired by the events of 16 June 1976; Cry, The Beloved Country which is based on Alan Paton's classic novel; South Africa's first ever Oscar nominated film, Yesterday and Faith's Corner which screened as part of the official programme of the World Economic Forum on Africa last week.
Meisie is a gentle and humane film which is set on the peripheries of the Kalahari Desert. The film focuses on a young girl, Meisie (Abrina Bosman) who has an astonishing talent for mathematics, but is prevented by her father from going to the local school. Instead, she is forced to tend goats and practices her maths with stones on the desert sand. The arrival of an inspirational new teacher in the town results in a change that impacts on Meisie's life forever.
Meisie stars Renate Stuurman, Abrina Bosman, Raymond Basson and Desmond C. Claasen. It is directed by Darrell James Roodt and produced by Diony Kempen. The film was shot on location in Riemvasmaak, a town on the outskirts of the Kalahari.
